T
he New York City Council has unveiled its own housing plan, dubbed "City for All," which aims to address the city's housing shortage. While complementary to Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" proposal, the Council's plan also proposes changes and demands more funding for the city's housing programs. Speaker Adrienne Adams had hinted at a Council-led plan, citing concerns that zoning changes in City of Yes would not be enough to tackle the housing crisis.

    The Council's plan adds affordability requirements to large transit-oriented and town center developments, which some groups have called for in projects with 10 or more units. However, it does not specify what constitutes a "large" project. This move has raised concerns that adding affordability requirements could drive up costs and impede the development of new housing.

    The plan also seeks significant capital funding to address flooding and sewer issues, which have been a concern for elected officials and community members. City Planning Director Dan Garodnick has expressed worries that adding infrastructure costs would erode project profitability without subsidies.

    The Council's plan calls for increased funding for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development's affordable housing programs and resurfaces Speaker Adams' legislation to boost HPD financing for for-sale homes over rentals. The speaker emphasized the need to address unrelenting housing pressures, saying that going beyond zoning reforms is crucial to ensuring safe and stable housing for all New Yorkers.

    While it's unclear if the Council's approval of City of Yes hinges on funding commitments from the administration, there are tension points between the two plans. The Council may not feel confident in the mayor's ability to deliver on promises given his current legal troubles. A City Hall spokesperson expressed optimism about shared policy goals but did not commit to meeting all of the Council's demands.

    The Council's plan does not address two contentious proposals in City of Yes: eliminating parking minimums for new housing construction and legalizing accessory dwelling units.